VALDOSTA, Ga. – Valdosta State senior men's basketball forward Drew Mills and freshman women's basketball freshman guard Chardae Rumph were named Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week.  This is the fourth weekly honor of the year for Mills and the first for Rumph.
 
Mills, a native of Baltimore, Md., helped lead VSU to a 103-100 overtime thrilling victory on Saturday versus rival West Florida.  Mills played 40 of 45 minutes in the game as he finished with a career-high 36 points on 15 of 24 from the field, while he was 2 of 3 from deep and 4 of 4 from the line.  Mills pulled down eight rebounds and had one assist and one block.  The 36 points marked the third time this season of scoring over 30 points and the third time in the last five games.  His 15 of 24 from the field (.625) marked a career-best in both field goals made and attempted.  The 15 made FG's ties the season-high in the GSC in 2025-26, while his 36 points are third-most in the league and his 24 field goal attempts are tied for second-most in the league this season.  It also marked the first time he has played 40 or more minutes in a game in his career.
 
He earned Gulf South Conference Player of the Week honors for the first time this season for his efforts as the win over UWF halted the Argos run of winning ten of their last 11, while the victory gave VSU a 12-8 record overall and a 7-7 mark in GSC play heading into the final month of the regular season.  
 
Rumph, a Miami, Fla., native, earned GSC Freshman of the Week honors for the second time this season after helping VSU knock off West Florida on Saturday in a 79-76 thriller in overtime.  Rumph tallied season-highs in points (20) and field goals made (six), converting 6 of 12 from the field and knocked down 6 of 9 from beyond the arc with her six triples marking a conference-best this season.  
 
The 20 points marked Rumph's fifth game in double figures as she has made six field goals in each of the last two games, while her six triples doubled her previous best of three in a 3 for 5 outing against Delta State (Jan. 4).  The win moved the Lady Blazers to 10-10 overall and 7-7 in league play.
 
Mills and Rumph will be back in action this Thursday at The Complex as the teams host Lee beginning at 6 p.m., with the women's game followed by the men's.  On Saturday, Feb. 7, the closeout the homestand hosting Trevecca Nazarene beginning at 2 p.m.
 
Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athletes of the Week
Oct. 20, 2025 – Eimy Negron Domenech (Volleyball) / Elad Sebbag (Men's Golf)
Oct. 27, 2025 – Kaitlyn Scherer (Women's Soccer) / Mark Robinson (Football)
Nov. 3, 2025 – Taylor Youmans (Women's Soccer) / Council Allen (Football)
Nov. 10, 2025 – Eimy Negron Domenech (Volleyball) / Corey Reddick, Jr. (Football)
Nov. 17, 2025 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Matt Rolader (Football)
Nov. 24, 2025 – Aryana Hicks (Women's Basketball) / Blaise Wallace (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 1, 2025 – Aryana Hicks (Women's Basketball) / MJ Jones (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 8, 2025 – Alina Martin (Women's Basketball) / Samarion Bond (Men's Basketball)
Dec. 16, 2025 – Amaya Broadus (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Dec 22, 2025 –  Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 5, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Lucas Brown Jr. (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 12, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Peter McKey (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 20, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)
Jan. 26, 2026 – Erin Whalen (Women's Basketball) / Blaise Wallace (Men's Basketball)
Feb. 3, 2026 – Chardae Rumph (Women's Basketball) / Drew Mills (Men's Basketball)